Every Member of Decapitated Officially Charged With Rape, Band Offers Official Statement [Updated]

The members of Polish death metal veterans Decapitated were arrested on the morning of Sept. 9 for alleged kidnapping and later for gang raping a woman after an Aug. 31 concert in Spokane, Washington. The group was eventually charged with kidnapping in the first degree and now the The Spokesman Review is reporting that all four members of Decapitated have been formally charged with rape.

Vocalist Rafal Piotrowski and founding guitarist Waclaw Kieltyka have been charged with second degree rape while their bandmates drummer Michal Lysejko and bassist Hubert Wiecek have been charged with third degree rape. Kieltyka, best known by his stage name "Vogg," is slated to appear in Super Court today per his attorney.

Just over one week ago, the band was extradited to Spokane from Los Angeles. A woman has said that Decapitated invited her and her friend onto their tour bus for drinks after the group's headlining show at The Pin. The "vibe" on the bus was said to have changed and that "one of the members began looking at them like they were prey." The woman “attempted to push Piotrowski away but he grabbed her arm and spun her around to where she was facing the sink and mirror in the bathroom. She saw in the mirror and out of the corner of her eye each of the band members taking turns raping her," court documents indicated, among other details of the night.

Prior to the charges being filed, Decapitated said in a statement, "While we are not perfect human beings, we are not kidnappers, rapists, or criminals. As such, we strongly deny the allegations that have recently been brought against us. We ask that everyone please reserve their judgment until a definitive outcome has been reached, as charges have yet to be pressed. Full testimony and evidence will be presented in due time, and we have faith in that process."

Update: Decapitated have released a new statement in response to being formally charged of rape:

An update – following extradition from California to Washington, the band has now been charged. We’d like to emphasise; the Spokane Police Department has pressed charges as procedural formality, without doing so, they would be forced to release band – this is not a conviction or any indication of guilt or innocence.

Once again, we ask that everyone wait for each party’s case to be presented and await the court’s decision. With that said, whilst cases are being prepared on both sides, some facts are indisputable at this point – that the original officer who took the complaint from the accuser stated, "I do not have probable cause that a rape occurred”, and it’s taken a full 30 days to file charges, which is right up against the point at which the defendants would legally have had to be released.

The band firmly refutes the allegations and are confident that once the facts and evidence have been seen and heard, they will be released and able to return home.

Individuals who were present on the night in question with information about the case are asked to reach out to the defense lawyer, Steve Graham of Spokane, Washington.